Relational and Sexual Education Toolkit for Teacher Education Programmes

In The Netherlands, a toolkit has been developed to support teacher educators in addressing themes such as relationships and sexual diversity within both primary and secondary teacher education programmes. The toolkit, created by Rutgers and Stichting School & Veiligheid, is titled ‘Gezonde Relaties & Seksualiteit’ (‘Healthy Relationships & Sexuality’), offers a structured and practical approach to prepare student teachers for the complex realities of relational and sexual education in school and is embedded in a vision that sees teacher educators as key figures in promoting safe and inclusive learning environments in schools. Two versions of the toolkit are made: one version is tailored to primary education, and the other to secondary education, ensuring relevance to the specific developmental stages and teaching contexts.

A need for structural attention
The toolkits were created in response to growing awareness that topics such as consent, gender identity, and social safety are often addressed too incidentally in schools. Although Dutch schools are required to include these themes in their curriculum, they are frequently only discussed after incidents occur and are rarely embedded in a broader pedagogical vision. These toolkits aim to change that by equipping future teachers with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to proactively foster safe, inclusive, and respectful learning environments.

Structure and flexibility of the toolkits
Each toolkit includes eight thematic modules for student teachers and a detailed guide for teacher educators. The modules combine e-learning with classroom-based activities and cover topics such as teaching about relationships and sexuality, sexual integrity and a safe environment, sexual development, and sexual diversity. The toolkits are designed to be flexible and can be integrated into teacher education programmes in various ways. Teacher educators can choose to implement full modules or select specific components that align with their curriculum and the needs of their students. Modules such as Encountering Differences and Sexual Integrity and a Safe Environment align well with pedagogical courses, while Subject Knowledge fits naturally within content-specific courses. Student teachers can also independently deepen their understanding by completing the e-learning modules.

Ways to integrate the modules
The accompanying guide offers suggestions for lesson planning, classroom discussions, and assignments that encourage student teachers to apply their learning in their teaching at school. The toolkit not only provides factual knowledge but also supports teacher educators in developing the confidence to address sensitive issues, respond to student questions, and model respectful behaviour. The toolkit encourages reflection on personal values and cultural norms, helping student teachers to become more aware of their own perspectives and how these may influence their teaching.

 The Dutch toolkit is freely available via School & Veiligheid or Seksuelevorming.nl (primary education and secondary education).